5 Ways to Have a More Productive Morning

Mornings are crazy at my house. Everyone is rushing to get ready for school or work, trying to finish things they didn’t get to the night before, or racing out the door because they overslept. It’s a crazy hectic time of day. Like most people, I have things I need to accomplish in the morning to make sure the rest of the day goes smoothly. Here are a few ways to have a more productive morning.

Set a Routine

Developing and sticking to a routine will help make your mornings more productive. Try to wake up at the same time every day and do the same tasks. If you always have coffee followed by breakfast and then check your email, for example, try to stick to this routine on the weekend as well.

Use Technology

I’m a fan of anything that saves time, and I find that tech tools help me be more productive. I plan meals with a programmable Instant Pot. I use a timer to turn on lights in the morning. I have reminders for my appointments set on my iPhone. I use Amazon Echo to answer questions about traffic, weather, and meetings, and to set timers to remind me of tasks I need to finish.

Get Some Sleep

Most of us want to pack as much as possible into each day, but one of the best ways to have a productive morning is to get plenty of sleep the night before. Despite your best intentions, it’s unlikely you’ll get much done if you’re operating on just four hours of sleep. Get into the habit of going to sleep at the same time each night so you’ll wake up well-rested.

Create a Landing Space

Do you spend much of your morning trying to find your car keys, your sunglasses, your child’s homework, the bill you need to put in the mailbox, and the dress you need to drop at the dry cleaners? Create a landing space for each person in the family. Before bed, make sure that everything you’ll need for the next day is in that spot, so you won’t waste time hunting for lost items.

Be Realistic

As much as I would like to be superwoman, I am not. There is only so much I can get done in one morning. If your mornings are frantic and you’re often late for work or for school drop offs, see if you can streamline your morning routine. Leave some tasks for later in the day, or see if someone in your family can lend a hand.

Don’t Forget to Breathe

Morning sets the tone for the rest of the day, so if your day begins in a frazzle, you’re not getting off to a good start. Try to build a few minutes of meditation or exercise into your morning routine to catch your breath, clear your head, and prepare yourself for the day ahead.